Automobile bumper



Nov. 1, 1927. 1,647,627

S. HOROWTZ AUTOMOBILE BUMPER Filed May 28'. 1927 '7 f l Y, fzderorf Jamaeroaf) ya. @2. Z/

i'tor'ney Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL HOROWITZ, OF PHILADEiPI-IIA, IEENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMOBILE BUMPER.

This invention relates to automobile bumpers used for the purpose of avoiding or at least vminimizing damage or injury to a vehicle or its occupants in cases of accidental collision, `and the invention contemplates the `provision of a structure which will be durable, simple to manufacture and asscmn ble, efficient in its action, and so constructed that injury to a portion thereof will not.

necessitate the replacement of an entirely new bumper.

The `principal object of thelnvention is toprovide a simple and eiiicient bumper which will effectively minimize the shock 1n the event of sudden impact with another obj ect of the vehicle upon which it is mounted.

A further object ofthe invention 1s to provide a bumper for vehicles, which bumper is `made ofindependently operable sections. y i

A further object is to `provide a` bumper for vehicles which will be positive m its action, and which combines the joint action of frictionaland resilient means.

A further object is to provide a. bumper for vehicles, portions of which mayl be removed and replaced without affecting the remaining parts.

A further object is the provision of a bumper for vehicles having a plurality of independent separately movable engagement members, each `provided with shock absorbing members.

The nature andV characteristic features of my invention willbe` more readily`understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of the bumper, certain parts being broken away to slhow more clearly the relativeV arrangement of themovable `sections g Fig. 2 is a front view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlargedview of one of the sections of the bumper;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 44 ofFig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional. view taken on the line 5ms of Fig. a

Referring to the drawings, in the par ticular embodiment of my invention therein shown, 1 denotes the assembled bumper made up of a plurality of independent sections earried by abaelring member bar Application led May 28,

The backing member 3 has secured thereto at convenient points brackets 4 whereby the bumper may be attached to a vehicle. These brackets may be of any preferred type, and, as they do not forml an essential part of the invention, they will not be described in greater detail.

There is also provided a series of bars 5, one for each of the sections. Each of the bars 5 has a plurality of tubular members 6` arranged on both sides. of the bar 5, and on the outside of each of which a spring 7 is mounted. Rods 8 ht into the tubes 6 and are free to move therein.

`The rods 8 are attached to strips 9, said strips 9 having a plurality of undulations 10 therein.

A bar 5, a set of tubes 6, the rods 8 coacting therewith, the springs 7 mounted thereon, and two strips 9, one on each side, constitute an assembly which forms the male member of one of the separate units making up the bumper.

Engaging the assembly above ldescribed is an assembly composed of a pair of strips 11, the said strips 11 also each having a series of undulations 12, complemental to the undulations of the strips 9. The strips 11 are attached to a U-shaped bar 13, which in turn is attached to a Ushaped member 14,

the front portion of which is of greaterl width and is preferably provided with an opening 15 to reduce the weight.

The complete bumper preferably consists of a. plurality of assemblies of coacting male and female members arranged side by side as shown, and covered by a top plate 16 and a bottom plate 17.

The top and bottom plates 16 and 17 are held together by means of bolts 18 passing therethrough, and these bolts also serve as `guides for the U-shaped members 13 and 14,

the side legs of said U-shaped members 13 and 14 being separated sufficiently for the bolts 18 to extend therebetween.

The operation of the bumper may now be explained. When the bumper impacts vio lently against any object, the front portion of the Ushaped member 14 coming in con-- tact therewith, the female memberwill be pushed inward., whereupon the undulating strips llforming part thereof will cause the undulating strips 9 of the male member to be forced toward the bar 5., against the ten- 'of the springs 7, therebgyr peritlittiiigthe female member' to be forced inward a distance siilicieiit `tor the undulations ot the respective strips to ire-engage at other places.

It will be understood that should the im pact be of a certain torce, the movement oi the female member will be suthcient merely to permit the same to be moved a single step, but should the impact be greater, the movement ivill take place through a greater number ot steps. ln this manner the torce of the impact Will be taken up not only by the resistance ot the springs 7, but alsoby reason ot the trictional engagement of the undulating surfaces ot the strips.

The above disclosure is to be understood as illustrating a speciiic 'form or embodiment of my invention and not as limiting` the same, since many changes and substitutions may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention. For instance, the tubes 6 and rods S- may be omitted, in Which case the springs 7 may be attached directly to the bar 5 and the strips 9. The number as Well as the curvature of the undulations 10 and 12 may also be varied. The strips 9 may be reinforced on the sides which do not engage, so that the entire assembly may be strengthened, and if desired, the opening 15 in the iront portion ot the member llt may be omitted.

Having thus described the nature. and characteristic features ot my invention, what l claim as nevi7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a bumper tor vehicles a corrugated Vmember normally held in fixed position and a second corrugated member complemental to and engaging the lirst member, and movable With respect thereto when shock is imparted to the second member.

2. A bumper for vehicles oomprisinga plurality ot corrugated members, resilient means interposed between said members, and a second group of members, said second group oit corrugated members adapted to engage the lirst members.

8. A bumper for vehicles comprising a plurality of pairs of corrugated members, resilient means interposedbetiveen each of said pairs ot members, anda second group ot pairs ot corrugated members, each of said pairs of the second group cooperative with a pair'of said first members.

4. A bumper for vehicles comprising a backing member, a plurality of corrugated strips supported thereby, resilient means in termediate said. strips, and a second group ot corrugated'members, each ot said strips oli' said second group cooperative With a strip in the tirstgroup.

5. A bumper for vehicles comprising a backing member, a plurality of pairs ot corrugated strips supported thereby, resilient means intermediate said strips, and a second group of pairs of corrugated strips, each of Leanser said pairs ot the second group comwrativo with a pair oil strips in the tirst groiip.

(3. A bumper for vehicles cou'iprising a backing member, a plurality ot pairs ot corrugated strips supported thereby, Pairings intermediate said strips, and a second group ot pairs ot corrugated strips, each olf said pairs of the second group cooperative with a pair ot strips in the first group.

7. A bumper 'tor vehicles comprising a backing member, a plurality ot bars mounted in iront oll said backing member, a plurality ot' pairs ot' corrugated strips slidably mounted VWith respect to each ot said bars, tubular members intermediate `said bars and strips, rods slidably mounted in said tubular members, resilient means intermediate said bars and strips, said resilientmeans encompassing said rods and tubular members, and a second group oi pairs of corrugated strips, each ot said pairs oiI the second group cooperative `with a pair ot strips in the Atirst group.

8. A bumper ior vehicles comprising a backing member, a plurality ot bars mounted in iront ot said backing member, a plurality of pairs ot corrugated strips slidably mounted with respect to each oit said bars, tubular members `intermediate said bars and strips, rods slidably mounted in said tubular members, springs intermediate said bars and strips, said springs encompassing said rods and tubular members, a second group ot pairs of corrugated strips, each ot said pairs ot' the second group cooperative with a pair ot strips in the iirst group, and means connecting the 'pairs ot strips in the second group.

9. A bumper tor vehicles comprising a backing member, a plurality ot bars mounted in 'front ot said backing member, a plurality ot pairs oi corrugated strips slidably mounted with respect to each of said bars, tubular members carried by said bars, rods carried by said strips, resilient means intermediate saidbars and strips, said resilient means encompassing said rods and tubular members, and a second group oi pairs of corrugated strips, each ot said pairs oit the second group cooperative with a pair of strips in the rst group.

l0. A bumper for vehicles comprising the combination with means tor supporting the same, oi' a plurality ol independently operable units, each oit said units comprising corrugated members, resilient means bearing against said members, other corrugated meni bers complemental to the tirst mentioned members, and a iframe in which said second mentioned members are mounted.

ll. A bumper `for vehicles comprising the combination ivith means tor supportiug the same, oi a plurality of independently operable units, each ot said units comprising a palrot corrugated members, resilient means bearing against said members, a second pair lofi ila

of corrugated members con'lplemental to tbe lirst pair, and a frame in which said second pair of members is mounted.

1Q. A bumper` for vehicles comprising the combination With means for supporting the same, of a plurality of independently operable units, each of said units comprising a pair of corrugated members, springs bearing against said members, a second pair of corrugated members complemental to tlie first pair, and a frame in which said second pair of members is mounted.

13. A bumper for vehicles comprising the combination with means for supporting the same` oi? a plurality of independently operable units, eacli of said units comprising a pair of corrugated members, a bar ixedly positioned between said members, springs interposed between said bar and said members,

a second pair of corrugated members complemental to the first pair, and a frame in which said second pair of members is mounted.

14. A bumper for Vehicles comprising the combination with means for supporting -tlie same, of a plurality of independently operable units, each of said units comprising a pair of corrugated members, a bar fixedly positioned between said members, springs interposed between said bar and said members, a second pair of corrugated members complemental to the first pair, and a U- shaped frame in which said second pair of members is mounted.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my nameu SAMUEL HOROWITZ. 

